Will the egg hatch?

So one week ago I got a "pair" of Lahore pigeons. I say pair in quotations because we just went in the loft, caught several to compare pelvic bones and I picked two I liked who appeared to be male and female. When I got them home I put them in a pairing cage to make sure they became a boned pair before I put them in my loft with other breeds of pigeons, and luckily within a couple days I noticed pairing behavior like grooming. Four or five days in I noticed the female had laid an egg. If it had been another breed I probably would have just discarded it until I put them in the loft with breeding boxes, but because I want to get as many chicks out of this pair as possible I instead put in a clay pot filled with bedding and put the egg in it. Happily the female has been sitting on it for the last two-three days, and tonight I noticed the male sitting in on finally too. So far she has not laid another egg though, not sure why...

So my question is - does that seem really fast for pairing to you? Is the egg likely to be fertile? They were in a loft with other Lahores, and I have no way of knowing whether they were already a pair when I got them or if they were paired to other pigeons. Would it likely be fertilized by the male in the cage or can pigeon hens store sperm like chicken hens can, and in that case might it actually be fertilized from her previous mate? Thanks!

Quote: Pigeons begin copulating about 10 days before the egg arrives. I think you stand a real good chance of the egg being fertile. Especially if she was paired to a cock with some experience. You will be able to candle in a bout a week to know for sure if there is any development.

Ok, thanks! So in other words the father could be either my cock or a different one from old the owner's loft? I have only had them a week (to the day) and she laid the egg a couple days ago! Also wondering why she hasn't laid a second yet, since they normally lay two. This is actually my first pair I've let raise babies, because Iv'e only had pigeons a year and I got juveniles originally (and haven't let them sit on eggs yet because I want to put them in a new loft.)

Also wondering why she hasn't laid a second yet, since they normally lay two. The second egg can follow up to 3+- days after laying the first I seen happen in my loft. It is not done on the same day is my experience. If it is her first clutch sometimes they just lay the one egg it is not unusual. Nineteen days +- and in a perfect world you should have a hatch. Keep us posted. On another note look up egg candling on the internet and give us an update on things in a weeks time if all is going well. Good luck back yard buddy.